Assured Vantage Offers More Agency-Friendly Terms and No-Haggle, Structured
Incentive Schedule
SOUTHLAKE, Texas, Feb. 25 /PRNewswire/ — Sabre Travel Network announced today the Assured Vantage program, a new contract offering for small to medium-sized travel agencies in the U.S. who renew or sign new agreements to use the Sabre global distribution system (GDS). The new program offers more agency-friendly contract terms, such as reducing the risk of traditional booking volume shortfalls, and introduces a new, simple incentive schedule.
“We are essentially bringing no-haggle pricing to our customers where pricing has often been anything but transparent for them,” said Hugh Jones, senior vice president of Sabre Travel Network, North America. “In addition, we’re delivering flexibility and predictability, while reducing the risk associated with traditional GDS contracts, as our agency customers have requested.”
Key components of the Assured Vantage program include:
-- Volume booking commitments will no longer be required to participate
in the Sabre system. Instead customers will commit a percentage of
their GDS bookings to Sabre Travel Network.
-- Travel agencies can now select an incentive plan with no booking
volume commitments or related shortfalls, significantly reducing
travel agency risk.
-- Travel agencies will continue to have the option of receiving a
portion of their incentives as a signing bonus with an associated
low-risk booking commitment.
-- Message charges (also known as "Scan") will be eliminated for most
customers.
-- Incentive rates will be set based on a simple, structured table that
results in incentives based on volume, not negotiating skill or luck.
On average, incentives for 2004 contract renewals under the Assured Vantage program will be approximately equal to the incentive value agencies receive on their existing contracts. Existing agency contracts will be honored until their expiration, although Sabre Travel Network will work with any agency interested in transitioning to this new contract program early.
“The value Sabre Travel Network offers small to medium-sized agencies has never been stronger,” Jones continued. “We’ve secured the lowest published fares from all six major U.S. network airlines, and offer unmatched programs, tools and technology to help agencies increase revenues and lower costs.”
Customers can find more information on the Assured Vantage Program by visiting the Sabre Travel Network Website at www.sabretravelnetwork.com .
About Sabre Travel Network
Sabre Travel Network, a Sabre Holdings company, provides access to the world’s leading global distribution system (GDS) enabling agents at more than 53,000 agency locations worldwide to be travel experts. The Sabre GDS, the first system to connect the buyers and sellers of travel, today includes more than 400 airlines, approximately 60,000 hotels, 41 car rental companies, nine cruise lines, 36 railroads and 200 tour operators. Key brands of Sabre Travel Network include GetThere, the leading Web-based corporate travel reservation technology, and Jurni Network, the unique leisure travel agency consortium that enables members to sell more products from preferred travel suppliers using sophisticated market intelligence.
Sabre Holdings Corporation (NYSE: TSG) is a world leader in travel commerce, retailing travel products and providing distribution and technology solutions for the travel industry. More information about Sabre Holdings is available at http://www.sabre-holdings.com .
Statements in this release which are not purely historical facts, including statements about the anticipated benefits of the Assured Vantage program initiative or other statements about anticipations, beliefs, expectations, hopes, intentions or strategies for the future, may be forward- looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based upon information available to Sabre Holdings Corporation on the date this release was issued. Sabre Holdings Corporation undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Any forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from the events or results described in the forward-looking statements, including risks or uncertainties related to Sabre Holdings Corporation’s efforts to control the growth of incentives. Sabre Holdings Corporation may not succeed in addressing these and other risks. Further information regarding factors that could affect our financial and other results can be found in the risk factors section of Sabre Holdings Corporation’s most recent filing on Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
SOURCE Sabre Travel Network
-0- 02/25/2004
/CONTACT: Nanci Williams of Sabre Holdings Corporation, +1-682-605-2271,
or nanci.williams@sabre-holdings.com /
/Web site: http://www.sabretravelnetwork.com
http://www.sabre-holdings.com /
(TSG)
CO: Sabre Travel Network; Sabre Holdings Corporation
ST: Texas
IN: CPR MLM TRA LEI AIR
SU: PDT
JS-CD
-- DAW020 --
7845 02/25/2004 11:03 EST http://www.prnewswire.com
